Local PGA Professional Derek Buckley earns PGA advanced certification

The PGA of America announced that Derek Buckley of Bethesda, MD, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda recently completed the requirements to achieve an advanced certification through the PGA Certified Professional Program 2.0 (CPP 2.0), a valuable achievement that is aimed at further enhancing the skill set of PGA Professionals and advancing career opportunities.

Serving as the PGA’s enhanced, all-digital training and education curriculum, PGA CPP 2.0 is a state-of-the-art platform that ensures that PGA members have the skills, competencies and training demanded by employers and customers throughout the golf industry.

Since the PGA Certified Professional Program’s original inception in 2004, a total of 994 PGA Professionals have earned a combined 1,829 certifications in their desired career paths.

“The digital integration of the educational curriculum enables PGA Professionals to acquire relevant knowledge in real-time and immediately transfer and apply their knowledge to everyday business matters,” said PGA Master Professional Dawes Marlatt, senior director of Education and Employment for the PGA of America.

Designed with direct input from employers and industry experts to immediately enhance the expertise and performance of PGA members in the workplace, PGA CPP 2.0 is an intuitive program available on PGALinks.com that offers certifications in Golf Operations, General Management, Player Development and Teaching & Coaching. Buckley earned his certification in General Management.

These four distinct certification programs encompass seven defined Career Paths (Golf Operations, Retail, General Management, Executive Management, Ownership and Leasing, Golf Instruction and Player Development) –supporting PGA members who are committed to continuously enhancing their golf management skills, in order to stay ahead of the increasing demands of the industry.